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Space Race: Why Young Chinese Are Cutting Ties With Relatives
In stark contrast to their parents, young Chinese are distancing themselves from family ties and seeking more personal space amid shifting societal dynamics, urbanization, and the influence of social media.
Nov 23, 2023, Sixth Tone
For Zhang Yu, Mid-Autumn Festival this year was a muted affair. The 25-year-old Shanghai resident chose to spend it with just her parents and sister in their hometown in the eastern Shandong province, forgoing the traditional large family gatherings.
A decade apart from extended family has left her feeling disconnected, to the point where she feels most of them are strangers. “I’m content living my own life without meddling in theirs,” Zhang told Sixth Tone, accepting her stance as cold but comfortable.
Also in her 20s, Saumy Chen took a more drastic approach. She informed all her paternal relatives that she would decisively cut ties with them all, with the exception of one cousin. Her declaration, made in a family messaging group amid anger and frustration, was followed by her systematically deleting them as contacts.
“It’s the right time to bid a farewell to all those struggles,” said Chen, who spoke with Sixth Tone using a pseudonym to protect her privacy, referring to the longstanding animosity she’s endured from her family since childhood.
Across the country, young Chinese adults are increasingly distancing themselves from their relatives, a departure from the efforts of their parents’ generation to maintain familial connections.
